Topol-M SS-27 "Sickle B" | |
---|---|
Type | Intercontinental ballistic missile |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | December 2000–present |
Used by | Russian Strategic Missile Troops |
Production history | |
Designer | Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology |
Manufacturer | Votkinsk Machine Building Plant |
Produced | December 1994–2010 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 47,200 kg (104,000 lb) |
Length | 22.7 m (74 ft) |
Diameter | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
Warhead | 1 x 1.0 Mt [1] |
Engine | Three-stage Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 11,000 km (6,800 mi) |
Maximum speed | 7,520 metres per second (27,100 km/h; 16,800 mph; Mach 22) [2] |
Guidance system | Inertial with GLONASS [3] |
Accuracy | 200 m CEP [2] |
Launch platform | Silo, road-mobile TEL |
The RT-2PM2 «Topol-M» ( Russian: РТ-2ПМ2 «Тополь-М», NATO reporting name: SS-27 "Sickle B" [4], other designations: SS-27 Mod 1, [5] [6] RS-12M1, RS-12M2, formerly incorrectly RT-2UTTKh) [7] is one of the most recent intercontinental ballistic missiles to be deployed by Russia, [8] and the first to be developed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was developed from the RT-2PM Topol mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.
In its Russian designation РТ stands for "ракета твердотопливная", raketa tverdotoplivnaya ("solid fuel rocket"), while УТТХ – for "улучшенные тактико-технические характеристики", uluchshenniye taktiko-tekhnicheskie kharakteristiki ("improved tactical and technical characteristics"). "Topol" (тополь) in Russian means " white poplar". It is designed and produced exclusively by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, and built at the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. [9] [10]
The Topol-M is a cold-launched, three-stage, solid-propellant, silo-based or road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. [11] The missile's length is 22.7 meters and the first stage has a body diameter of 1.9 meters. The mass at launch is 47,200 kg, including the 1,200 kg payload. Topol-M carries a single warhead with an 800 kiloton yield [1] but the design is compatible with MIRV warheads. According to chief designer Yury Solomonov, the missile can carry four to six warheads along with decoys. [12] It is claimed to have the highest accuracy of any Russian ICBM. [13] The body of the rocket is made by winding carbon fiber.
The Topol-M may be deployed either inside a reinforced missile silo or from an APU launcher mounted on the MZKT-79221 "Universal" 16-wheeled transporter-erector-launcher. [13] The designation for the silo-based Topol-M missile is believed to be RS-12M2, while the mobile version is RS-12M1. [7]
The first stage has rocket motors developed by the Soyuz Federal Center for Dual-Use Technologies. These give the missile a much higher acceleration than other ICBM types. They enable the missile to accelerate to the speed of 7,320 m/s and to travel a flatter trajectory to distances of up to 10,000 km. [2]
As a solid propellant design, the missile can be maintained on alert for prolonged periods of time and can launch within minutes of being given the order. [12]
The development of the missile began in the late 1980s as a response to the American Strategic Defense Initiative. [14] Initially an evolutionary upgrade of the RT-2PM Topol, [15] the missile was redesigned in 1992.[ citation needed] The missile's principal designer was Yuri Solomonov, who would later oversee the development of the RSM-56 Bulava. [16]
The first flight test took place on December 20, 1994, during which the missile, launched from Plesetsk, hit its target 6,400 kilometres (4,000 mi) away. [17] [18] Two missiles were put on experimental combat duty in December 1997 at Tatishchevo. [17] The fifth test flight on 22 October 1998 was unsuccessful as the missile exploded after being launched; the sixth test flight two months later was successful. [17] The 104th Regiment of the Taman Missile Division, based in Saratov, introduced 10 missiles into service on 30 December 1998; another ten entered service with a second regiment in December 1999. [17] [19]
Silo launcher Topol-M entered service by presidential decree on 13 July 2000, the third, fourth and fifth regiments entered service in 2000, 2003 and 2005. The last regiment was to arrive in 2012. [20]
On December 12, 2006, the first three mobile Topol-M missile systems entered duty with a missile unit stationed near the town of Teykovo. [21]
Current Strategic Rocket Forces Order of Battle lists the following sites with Topol-M missiles: [22]
The Topol-M missiles have a lifetime between 15 and 20 years.
According to Russia this missile and its derivatives, RS-24 Yars, RS-26 Rubezh and RSM-56 Bulava are designed to counter and evade current or planned United States missile defense system. [23] It is said to be capable of making evasive maneuvers to avoid a kill by interceptors, and carries targeting countermeasures and decoys. [24]
One of the Topol-M's most notable features is its short engine burn time following take-off, intended to minimize satellite detection of launches and thereby complicate both early warning and interception by missile defense systems during boost phase. The missile also has a relatively flat ballistic trajectory, complicating defense acquisition and interception. [25]
According to The Washington Times, Russia has conducted a successful test of the evasive payload delivery system. [26] The missile was launched on 1 November 2005 from the Kapustin Yar facility. The warhead changed course after separating from the launcher, making it difficult to predict a re-entry trajectory.
A new missile loosely based on Topol-M and equipped with multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRV) is called RS-24 Yars. In January 2009 Russian sources hinted that the production of the mobile Topol-M missile would be shutting down in 2009 and that the new MIRVed RS-24 version would replace it. [27]
The Strategic Missile Troops are the only operator of the RT-2PM2 Topol-M. As of March 2020, [28] 60 silo-based and 18 mobile RT-2PM2 Topol-M missiles are deployed with 2 rocket divisions:
Silo-based:
Road-mobile:
It is believed that since 2010 no more RT-2PM2 Topol-M missiles have been purchased in favor of the newest RS-24 Yars.
Topol-M SS-27 "Sickle B" | |
---|---|
Type | Intercontinental ballistic missile |
Place of origin | Russia |
Service history | |
In service | December 2000–present |
Used by | Russian Strategic Missile Troops |
Production history | |
Designer | Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology |
Manufacturer | Votkinsk Machine Building Plant |
Produced | December 1994–2010 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 47,200 kg (104,000 lb) |
Length | 22.7 m (74 ft) |
Diameter | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
Warhead | 1 x 1.0 Mt [1] |
Engine | Three-stage Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 11,000 km (6,800 mi) |
Maximum speed | 7,520 metres per second (27,100 km/h; 16,800 mph; Mach 22) [2] |
Guidance system | Inertial with GLONASS [3] |
Accuracy | 200 m CEP [2] |
Launch platform | Silo, road-mobile TEL |
The RT-2PM2 «Topol-M» ( Russian: РТ-2ПМ2 «Тополь-М», NATO reporting name: SS-27 "Sickle B" [4], other designations: SS-27 Mod 1, [5] [6] RS-12M1, RS-12M2, formerly incorrectly RT-2UTTKh) [7] is one of the most recent intercontinental ballistic missiles to be deployed by Russia, [8] and the first to be developed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was developed from the RT-2PM Topol mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.
In its Russian designation РТ stands for "ракета твердотопливная", raketa tverdotoplivnaya ("solid fuel rocket"), while УТТХ – for "улучшенные тактико-технические характеристики", uluchshenniye taktiko-tekhnicheskie kharakteristiki ("improved tactical and technical characteristics"). "Topol" (тополь) in Russian means " white poplar". It is designed and produced exclusively by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, and built at the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. [9] [10]
The Topol-M is a cold-launched, three-stage, solid-propellant, silo-based or road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. [11] The missile's length is 22.7 meters and the first stage has a body diameter of 1.9 meters. The mass at launch is 47,200 kg, including the 1,200 kg payload. Topol-M carries a single warhead with an 800 kiloton yield [1] but the design is compatible with MIRV warheads. According to chief designer Yury Solomonov, the missile can carry four to six warheads along with decoys. [12] It is claimed to have the highest accuracy of any Russian ICBM. [13] The body of the rocket is made by winding carbon fiber.
The Topol-M may be deployed either inside a reinforced missile silo or from an APU launcher mounted on the MZKT-79221 "Universal" 16-wheeled transporter-erector-launcher. [13] The designation for the silo-based Topol-M missile is believed to be RS-12M2, while the mobile version is RS-12M1. [7]
The first stage has rocket motors developed by the Soyuz Federal Center for Dual-Use Technologies. These give the missile a much higher acceleration than other ICBM types. They enable the missile to accelerate to the speed of 7,320 m/s and to travel a flatter trajectory to distances of up to 10,000 km. [2]
As a solid propellant design, the missile can be maintained on alert for prolonged periods of time and can launch within minutes of being given the order. [12]
The development of the missile began in the late 1980s as a response to the American Strategic Defense Initiative. [14] Initially an evolutionary upgrade of the RT-2PM Topol, [15] the missile was redesigned in 1992.[ citation needed] The missile's principal designer was Yuri Solomonov, who would later oversee the development of the RSM-56 Bulava. [16]
The first flight test took place on December 20, 1994, during which the missile, launched from Plesetsk, hit its target 6,400 kilometres (4,000 mi) away. [17] [18] Two missiles were put on experimental combat duty in December 1997 at Tatishchevo. [17] The fifth test flight on 22 October 1998 was unsuccessful as the missile exploded after being launched; the sixth test flight two months later was successful. [17] The 104th Regiment of the Taman Missile Division, based in Saratov, introduced 10 missiles into service on 30 December 1998; another ten entered service with a second regiment in December 1999. [17] [19]
Silo launcher Topol-M entered service by presidential decree on 13 July 2000, the third, fourth and fifth regiments entered service in 2000, 2003 and 2005. The last regiment was to arrive in 2012. [20]
On December 12, 2006, the first three mobile Topol-M missile systems entered duty with a missile unit stationed near the town of Teykovo. [21]
Current Strategic Rocket Forces Order of Battle lists the following sites with Topol-M missiles: [22]
The Topol-M missiles have a lifetime between 15 and 20 years.
According to Russia this missile and its derivatives, RS-24 Yars, RS-26 Rubezh and RSM-56 Bulava are designed to counter and evade current or planned United States missile defense system. [23] It is said to be capable of making evasive maneuvers to avoid a kill by interceptors, and carries targeting countermeasures and decoys. [24]
One of the Topol-M's most notable features is its short engine burn time following take-off, intended to minimize satellite detection of launches and thereby complicate both early warning and interception by missile defense systems during boost phase. The missile also has a relatively flat ballistic trajectory, complicating defense acquisition and interception. [25]
According to The Washington Times, Russia has conducted a successful test of the evasive payload delivery system. [26] The missile was launched on 1 November 2005 from the Kapustin Yar facility. The warhead changed course after separating from the launcher, making it difficult to predict a re-entry trajectory.
A new missile loosely based on Topol-M and equipped with multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRV) is called RS-24 Yars. In January 2009 Russian sources hinted that the production of the mobile Topol-M missile would be shutting down in 2009 and that the new MIRVed RS-24 version would replace it. [27]
The Strategic Missile Troops are the only operator of the RT-2PM2 Topol-M. As of March 2020, [28] 60 silo-based and 18 mobile RT-2PM2 Topol-M missiles are deployed with 2 rocket divisions:
Silo-based:
Road-mobile:
It is believed that since 2010 no more RT-2PM2 Topol-M missiles have been purchased in favor of the newest RS-24 Yars.